Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, the plan is to have an integration of service at the regional level to bring together and to tune up the legislative pieces that are needed to be there to allow things to function more appropriately, to bring together the administrative and finance systems, which are now scattered and often disjointed and unconnected. The intent is to keep the decision-making at the community and regional levels.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the concerns, of course, that led to this is that the current clinics don’t have a lot of the equipment they need. They don’t have the space. They don’t have the exam rooms. They don’t have the plumbing and other infrastructure, let alone the equipment to do the testing or the X-rays and such. So a lot of that will be new.

The government will look at the length of the leases and put the existing space to whatever use they can during the life of the lease. I would imagine they would look at their other requirements and see if there’s any further need for those...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The opportunity is there within the MOU for the Gwich’in to request that involvement.

Mr. Speaker, through the Strategic Initiatives committee there is an awareness and recognition that there is a need to expand our economic base so it is not totally reliant on the non-renewable resource sector. As we come forward with the initiatives and the business plans, it will be demonstrated that we are making an attempt to provide better support for those areas.

The intent of this project is to consolidate the clinics in the downtown area into one facility. It will have better services, more treatment rooms, the ability to do basic testing that is right now done at.… People have to go to Stanton in terms of basic blood tests and basic diagnostic efforts.

It will allow for a better coordination of use. Right now the patient cancellation rate is very high. There’s a lack of coordination among the existing three clinics. Consolidation is intended to remedy that, to bring some efficiencies to bear. As well, hopefully with the changed hours and such, it...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That’s beyond the scope of my knowledge, other than what’s in the capital plan. The Legislative Assembly maintains and looks after the building and grounds.

Mr. Speaker, the continued high cost of energy is an ongoing concern for people in the Northwest Territories. Many residents are making changes to reduce their energy use and costs. Many are taking advantage of our energy contribution programs to make these changes.

Last year our government paid out more than $165,000 in rebates through the Energy Efficiency Incentive program to residents who purchased energy efficient appliances and vehicles. The majority of 549 approved applications were for the purchase of new household or home heating appliances in communities in every region in the NWT.

We...

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I’ll commit that we’ll get the committee members an update on the status of the evaluation of the work that is being done on the facility usage for correctional facilities.